Chrysanthemum named White Reagan

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named White Reagan, bearing medium sized white blooms with a yellow-green center and a performance of 24-28 days.

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/780,233 filed Oct. 22, 1991, now abandoned.

The present application is related to the following co-pending applications:

    ______________________________________                                         Application No.                                                                             Filing Date    Title                                              ______________________________________                                         07/780,305   October 22, 1991                                                                              Reagan                                             07/780,237   October 22, 1991                                                                              Orange Reagan                                      08/088,104   July 8, 1993   Dark Reagan                                        08/101,275   August 2, 1993 Coral Reagan                                       08/092,942   July 19, 1993  Sulfur Reagan                                      08/092,943   July 19, 1993  Yellow Reagan                                      08/092,941   July 19, 1993  Bronze Reagan                                      08/101,278   August 2, 1993 Salmon Reagan                                      ______________________________________                                    

ORIGIN AND HISTORY OF THE NEW PLANT

The new plant of the present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant which is a naturally occurring sport of a Chrysanthemum named Reagan, which in turn is a cross of unknown Chrysanthemum morifolium parents. The Chrysanthemum named Reagan is described in copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/780,305. The new cultivar was discovered in 1989 as a whole plant mutation by Martinus van der Jagt, in a greenhouse in Holland. The plant has been asexually reproduced by cuttings in greenhouses at Ter Aar, Holland. The new cultivar has been found to retain all of its distinctive characteristics through successive propagations.

SUMMARY OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention is a new and distinct variety of chrysanthemum of a medium sized bloom and white color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present new and distinct Chrysanthemum cultivar is shown in the accompanying drawings, the color being as nearly true as possible with color photographs of this type.

Sheet 1 shows the full bloom of the new cultivar;

Sheet 2, top, shows various stages of bloom of the new cultivar; and

Sheet 2, bottom, shows the foliage and petiole of the new cultivar.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This new variety of Chrysanthemum is of the botanical classification Chrysanthemum morifolium, and is named White Reagan. When grown in the vicinity of Ter Aar, Holland, it has a response time of approximately 71/2 weeks. This new variety produces medium sized white blooms with a yellow green center having a 4 week performance (i.e., a vase life of 24-28 days). This new variety of Chrysanthemum has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics throughout successive propagations and may be planted under greenhouse conditions in Holland between weeks fifty and thirty-five (i.e., between December 1 and August 30). Pest resistance, disease resistance and frost tolerance are unknown. The following is a description of the plant and characteristics (color designations are from the RHS Colour Chart) that distinguish it over related known varieties and its antecedents:

Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum morifolium.

Bud:

Size.--Medium (cross section) ±1.0 cm, Height ±0.7 cm.

Form.--Round and flat.

Outside color.--Yellow 4 D.

Bloom:

Size.--Medium.

Fully expanded.--61/2-7 cm.

Borne.--Upper portion, single flower per peduncle; Lower portion, plural flowers per peduncle.

Stems.--Strong, thick.

Form.--Single (Daisy).

Performance.--Very good 24-30 days (18°-20° C.).

Color:

Center of flower.--Immature: Yellow green 151 C; Mature: Yellow green 154 A.

Base of petals.--White 155 D but whiter and brighter.

Inside of petals.--White 155 D but whiter and brighter.

Reverse of petals.--White 155 D but whiter and brighter.

Outer petals.--White 155 D but whiter and brighter.

Tonality from a distance.--A white daisy with a fresh looking center having little or no pollen.

Discoloration.--None.

Pollen.--Yellow-orange 14 A.

Petals:

Texture.--Upperside smooth, underside smooth.

Number.--24-30 (two rows).

Cross-section.--Flat, two keels.

Arrangement.--Imbricated.

Persistence.--Good. Petals keep straight or reflex somewhat at the edge at the end of blooming.

Fragrance.--Typical Chrysanthemum.

Disc diameter.--1.5 cm.

Reproductive organs:

Stamen.--Yellow, thick, 3 mm in length.

Pollen.--Appears at a late stage of blooming, yellow-orange in color.

Styles.--Green thick. Length: ±5 mm.

Stigmas.--Yellow. Width: ±1 mm.

Ovaries.--Enclosed in calyx.

Plant:

Form.--Spray mum meant for erect culture. Herbaceous.

Growth.--Strong.

Height.--100-125 cm.

Peduncle.--Near the top ±14 cm, near the middle ±24 cm, near the bottom ±28 cm.

Internodes.--3 cm.

Flowering response.--71/2 weeks.

Foliage:

Color.--Upperside green 137 A, underside 137 C.

Size.--Length ±12 cm, width ±9 cm.

Quantity.--22-28.

Shape.--Lobed, see photograph.

Texture.--Upperside rough, underside smooth slightly hirsute.

Ribs and veins.--Ribs well developed, veins not so developed.

Edge.--Crenated.

Distinguishing characteristics of the Chrysanthemum of the Reagan family are summarized below in Tables IA and IB. Color designations therein are taken from the RHS Colour Chart.

                  TABLE IA                                                         ______________________________________                                         TITLE      REAGAN          WHITE REAGAN                                        ______________________________________                                         BUD        GREYED-PURPLE   YELLOW 4D                                           OUTSIDE    186D BUT PALER                                                      COLOR                                                                          CENTER OF                                                                      FLOWER                                                                         IMMATURE:  YELLOW-GREEN    YELLOW-GREEN                                                   151C            151C                                                MATURE:    YELLOW-GREEN    YELLOW-GREEN                                                   154A            154A                                                BASE OF    PURPLE 75B      WHITE 155D BUT                                      PETALS                     WHITER AND                                                                     BRIGHTER                                            INSIDE     PURPLE 75B      WHITE 155D BUT                                      OF                         WHITER AND                                          PETALS                     BRIGHTER                                            REVERSE    RED-PURPLE 69A  WHITE 155D BUT                                      OF         BUT PALER       WHITER AND                                          PETALS                     BRIGHTER                                            OUTER      PURPLE 75B      WHITE 155D BUT                                      PETALS                     WHITER AND                                                                     BRIGHTER                                            PETAL      FLAT            FLAT                                                CROSS-                                                                         SECTION                                                                        ______________________________________                                         TITLE     CORAL REAGAN   DARK REAGAN                                           ______________________________________                                         BUD       GREYED-PURPLE  BETWEEN GREYED                                        OUTSIDE   186A           PURPLE 186A                                           COLOR                    AND B                                                 CENTER OF                                                                      FLOWER                                                                         IMMATURE: YELLOW-GREEN   YELLOW-GREEN                                                    151C           151C                                                  MATURE:   YELLOW-GREEN   YELLOW-GREEN                                                    154A           154A                                                  BASE OF   GREYED-RED     RED-PURPLE 69B                                        PETALS    179C BUT       LIGHTLY                                                         REDDER         OVERLAID WITH                                                                  RED-PURPLE 72A                                                                 GIVING AN                                                                      OVERALL                                                                        IMPRESSION OF                                                                  PURPLE 75A BUT                                                                 PINKER                                                INSIDE    GREYED-RED     RED-PURPLE 69B                                        OF        179C BUT       LIGHTLY                                               PETALS    REDDER         OVERLAID WITH                                                                  RED-PURPLE 72A                                                                 GIVING AN                                                                      OVERALL                                                                        IMPRESSION OF                                                                  PURPLE 75A BUT                                                                 PINKER                                                REVERSE   GREYED-YELLOW  RED-PURPLE 69C                                        OF        162D TINGED    WITH A LIGHT                                          PETALS    WITH RED-      TESSELLATION                                                    PURPLE 71B     OF RED-PURPLE                                                   BETWEEN RIBS   72A                                                             AND MARGIN                                                           OUTER     GREYED-RED     RED-PURPLE 69B                                        PETALS    179C BUT       LIGHTLY                                                         REDDER         OVERLAID WITH                                                                  RED-PURPLE 72A                                                                 GIVING AN                                                                      OVERALL                                                                        IMPRESSION OF                                                                  PURPLE 75A BUT                                                                 PINKER                                                PETAL     FLAT           CONVEX                                                CROSS-                                                                         SECTION                                                                        ______________________________________                                         TITLE     ORANGE REAGAN   BRONZE REAGAN                                        ______________________________________                                         BUD       GREYED-RED      GREYED-RED                                           OUTSIDE   180A            179C                                                 COLOR                                                                          CENTER OF                                                                      FLOWER                                                                         IMMATURE: YELLOW-GREEN    YELLOW-GREEN                                                   151C            151C                                                 MATURE:   YELLOW-GREEN    YELLOW-GREEN                                                   154A            154A                                                 BASE OF   BETWEEN GREYED  YELLOW 8A WITH                                       PETALS    ORANGE 169A     AN OVERLAY OF                                                  AND B           GREYED RED 179B                                      INSIDE    BETWEEN GREYED  YELLOW 8A WITH                                       OF        ORANGE 169A     AN OVERLAY OF                                        PETALS    AND B           GREYED RED 179B                                      REVERSE   NEAREST TO      YELLOW 8C                                            OF        GREYED-ORANGE   TINGED ALONG                                         PETALS    163B TINGED     THE CENTER                                                     WITH RED        WITH GREYED                                                    BETWEEN THE     RED 179B IN A                                                  RIBS            TESSELATED                                                                     PATTERN                                              OUTER     BETWEEN         YELLOW 8A WITH                                       PETALS    GREYED-ORANGE   AN OVERLAY OF                                                  169A AND B      GREYED RED 179B                                      PETAL     CONVEX          FLAT                                                 CROSS-                                                                         SECTION                                                                        ______________________________________                                                   YELLOW     SULPHUR    SALMON                                         TITLE     REAGAN    REAGAN      REAGAN                                         ______________________________________                                         BUD       YELLOW    YELLOW 10C  NEAREST TO                                     OUTSIDE   9C                    YELLOW-                                        COLOR                           ORANGE 23D                                     CENTER OF                                                                      FLOWER                                                                         IMMATURE: YELLOW-   YELLOW-     YELLOW-                                                  GREEN     GREEN       GREEN                                                    151C      151C        151C                                           MATURE:   YELLOW-   YELLOW-     YELLOW-                                                  GREEN     GREEN       GREEN                                                    154A      154A        154A                                           BASE OF   YELLOW    YELLOW 6D   NEAREST TO                                     PETALS    5C                    ORANGE 29C                                     INSIDE    YELLOW    YELLOW 6D   NEAREST TO                                     OF        5C                    ORANGE 29C                                     PETALS                                                                         REVERSE   YELLOW    YELLOW 6D   NEAREST TO                                     OF        4C                    YELLOW-                                        PETALS                          ORANGE 22D                                     OUTER     YELLOW    YELLOW 6D   NEAREST TO                                     PETALS    5C                    ORANGE 29C                                     PETAL     FLAT      FLAT        FLAT                                           CROSS-                                                                         SECTION                                                                        ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE IB                                                         ______________________________________                                         TITLE        REAGAN        WHITE REAGAN                                        ______________________________________                                         STEM INFORMATION                                                               STEM:        YELLOW-GREEN  NEAREST                                             GREEN COLOR  144A          GREEN 143C                                          STEM:        ABSENT        ABSENT                                              ANTHOCYANIN                                                                    COLORATION                                                                     STEM:        MEDIUM        MEDIUM TO                                           STRENGTH                   STRONG                                              STEM:        PRESENT       PRESENT                                             BRITTLENESS                                                                    PEDUNCLE INFORMATION                                                           LATERAL      MEDIUM        WEAK TO                                             SHOOT:                     MEDIUM                                              ATTACHMENT                                                                     TO STEM                                                                        LATERAL      MEDIUM        MEDIUM                                              SHOOT:                                                                         ANGLE                                                                          BETWEEN                                                                        LATERAL                                                                        SHOOT                                                                          AND STEM                                                                       ADDITIONAL FOLIAGE INFORMATION                                                 LEAF: SHAPE OF                                                                              ROUND         ROUND                                               BASE OF SINUS                                                                  BETWEEN                                                                        LATERAL LOBES                                                                  LEAF:        CONVERGING    CONVERGING                                          MARGINS OF                                                                     SINUS BETWEEN                                                                  LATERAL LOBES                                                                  LEAF:        ROUND         ASYMMETRIC                                          SHAPE OF BASE                                                                  LEAF: APEX   CUSPIDATE     MUCRONATE                                           GROWTH:                                                                        DIFFERENCE IN AVERAGE LENGTH (CM)                                                         0           0                                                       RESPONSE TIME:                                                                 DIFFERENCE IN DAYS OF AVERAGE RESPONSE                                                    0           0                                                       RESPONSE ON ALAR: DOSE THAT HAS TO BE USED                                     TO GET AN AVERAGE LENGTH OF ABOUT 90 CM                                        (DOSE IN GRAMS PER 100 LITER OF WATER                                                       300           300                                                 YEAR OF      1986          1989                                                DISCOVERY                                                                      ______________________________________                                         TITLE        CORAL REAGAN  DARK REAGAN                                         ______________________________________                                         STEM INFORMATION                                                               STEM:        YELLOW-GREEN  YELLOW-GREEN                                        GREEN COLOR  144A          144A                                                STEM:        PRESENT       PRESENT                                             ANTHOCYANIN                                                                    COLORATION                                                                     STEM:        MEDIUM        MEDIUM                                              STRENGTH                                                                       STEM:        ABSENT        PRESENT                                             BRITTLENESS                                                                    PEDUNCLE INFORMATION                                                           LATERAL      WEAK TO       MEDIUM                                              SHOOT:       MEDIUM                                                            ATTACHMENT                                                                     TO STEM                                                                        LATERAL      SMALL         MEDIUM                                              SHOOT:                                                                         ANGLE                                                                          BETWEEN                                                                        LATERAL                                                                        SHOOT                                                                          AND STEM                                                                       ADDITIONAL FOLIAGE INFORMATION                                                 LEAF: SHAPE OF                                                                              ROUND         ROUND                                               BASE OF SINUS                                                                  BETWEEN                                                                        LATERAL LOBES                                                                  LEAF:        CONVERGING    CONVERGING                                          MARGINS OF                                                                     SINUS BETWEEN                                                                  LATERAL LOBES                                                                  LEAF:        ASYMMETRIC    ASYMMETRIC                                          SHAPE OF BASE                                                                  LEAF: APEX   CUSPIDATE     MUCRONATE                                           GROWTH:                                                                        DIFFERENCE IN AVERAGE LENGTH (CM)                                                         -5          0                                                       RESPONSE TIME:                                                                 DIFFERENCE IN DAYS OF AVERAGE RESPONSE                                                    +1          +1/2                                                    RESPONSE ON ALAR: DOSE THAT HAS TO BE USED                                     TO GET AN AVERAGE LENGTH OF ABOUT 90 CM                                        (DOSE IN GRAMS PER 100 LITER OF WATER                                                       250           300                                                 YEAR OF      1988          1988                                                DISCOVERY                                                                      ______________________________________                                                      ORANGE        BRONZE                                              TITLE        REAGAN        REAGAN                                              ______________________________________                                         STEM INFORMATION                                                               STEM:        BETWEEN       YELLOW-GREEN                                        GREEN COLOR  YELLOW-GREEN  144A                                                             144A AND 146B                                                     STEM:        PRESENT       PRESENT                                             ANTHOCYANIN                                                                    COLORATION                                                                     STEM:        MEDIUM        MEDIUM                                              STRENGTH                                                                       STEM:        PRESENT       ABSENT                                              BRITTLENESS                                                                    PEDUNCLE INFORMATION                                                           LATERAL      MEDIUM        WEAK                                                SHOOT:                                                                         ATTACHMENT                                                                     TO STEM                                                                        LATERAL      SMALL         SMALL                                               SHOOT:                                                                         ANGLE                                                                          BETWEEN                                                                        LATERAL                                                                        SHOOT                                                                          AND STEM                                                                       ADDITIONAL FOLIAGE INFORMATION                                                 LEAF: SHAPE OF                                                                              ROUND         ROUND                                               BASE OF SINUS                                                                  BETWEEN                                                                        LATERAL LOBES                                                                  LEAF:        CONVERGING    CONVERGING                                          MARGINS OF                                                                     SINUS BETWEEN                                                                  LATERAL LOBES                                                                  LEAF:        TRUNCATE      ASYMMETRIC                                          SHAPE OF BASE                                                                  LEAF: APEX   CUSPIDATE     CUSPIDATE                                           GROWTH:                                                                        DIFFERENCE IN AVERAGE LENGTH (CM)                                                         +10         0                                                       RESPONSE TIME:                                                                 DIFFERENCE IN DAYS OF AVERAGE RESPONSE                                                    -1          -1/2                                                    RESPONSE ON ALAR: DOSE THAT HAS TO BE USED                                     TO GET AN AVERAGE LENGTH OF ABOUT 90 CM                                        (DOSE IN GRAMS PER 100 LITER OF WATER                                                       450           250                                                 YEAR OF      1988          1988                                                DISCOVERY                                                                      ______________________________________                                                     YELLOW     SULPHUR    SALMON                                       TITLE       REAGAN     REAGAN     REAGAN                                       ______________________________________                                         STEM INFORMATION                                                               STEM:       YELLOW-    NEAREST    YELLOW-                                      GREEN COLOR GREEN      GREEN      GREEN                                                    146B       143C       144A                                         STEM:       ABSENT     ABSENT     PRESENT                                      ANTHOCYANIN                                                                    COLORATION                                                                     STEM:       MEDIUM     MEDIUM     MEDIUM                                       STRENGTH               TO                                                                             STRONG                                                  STEM:       ABSENT     ABSENT     PRESENT                                      BRITTLENESS                                                                    PEDUNCLE INFORMATION                                                           LATERAL     WEAK TO    WEAK TO    MEDIUM                                       SHOOT:      MEDIUM     MEDIUM                                                  ATTACHMENT                                                                     TO STEM                                                                        LATERAL     SMALL      SMALL      MEDIUM                                       SHOOT:                                                                         ANGLE                                                                          BETWEEN                                                                        LATERAL                                                                        SHOOT                                                                          AND STEM                                                                       ADDITIONAL FOLIAGE INFORMATION                                                 LEAF: SHAPE OF                                                                             ROUND      ROUND      ROUND                                        BASE OF SINUS                                                                  BETWEEN                                                                        LATERAL LOBES                                                                  LEAF:       PARALLEL   PARALLEL   PARALLEL                                     MARGINS OF                                                                     SINUS BETWEEN                                                                  LATERAL LOBES                                                                  LEAF:       ASYM-      ASYM-      ASYM-                                        SHAPE OF BASE                                                                              METRIC     METRIC     METRIC                                       LEAF: APEX  MUC-       MUC-       CUS-                                                     RONATE     RONATE     PIDATE                                       GROWTH:                                                                        DIFFERENCE IN AVERAGE LENGTH (CM)                                                        0        +10        +10                                              RESPONSE TIME:                                                                 DIFFERENCE IN DAYS OF AVERAGE RESPONSE                                                   +1       -1         0                                                RESPONSE ON ALAR: DOSE THAT HAS TO BE USED                                     TO GET AN AVERAGE LENGTH OF ABOUT 90 CM                                        (DOSE IN GRAMS PER 100 LITER OF WATER                                                      280        450        350                                          YEAR OF     1990       1990       1987                                         DISCOVERY                                                                      ______________________________________                                     

What is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named White Reagan, as described and illustrated. 